I am trying to decide between the Bank One Free Cash Rewards Visa and the Shell Mastercard. The Free Cash Rewards Visa gives one point for every dollar charged. When you reach 2500 points, you can call in and get a $25 check sent to you. That is a full 1% rebate. There is no annual fee for this card. The Shell Mastercard pays 5% on all Shell purchases and 1% on all other purchases. Rebates are applied to your next statement, against future Shell purchases. You need to use it nine times a year to avoid an annual fee of $20. I use all types of gas, whatever is cheapest, so I am not a pure Shell devotee. The Bank One Visa has a 2500 point tier, but there is no annual fee and no tie-in with Shell or any other gas. As a third rebate card (behind AMEX cash-back and Chase Freedom card), which card (of these two) sounds like the best to get?
I think shell bites because their gas is always 5cents more expensive than the others, and you only get 5% rebate not a great bargin by any means
agreed, I used mine for 2 months and realized that by going to 76 and using my amex I would get the same price as shell with the rebate and get the points, at least in CA.
Thanks for your comments, guys. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be saying that the cash-back visa is the better card. Shell, except for one station near where I work, is no cheaper than other gas, and I don't want to get a card for one station!
